Official United Rugby Championship thread

[Jock42]

1 Munster - 63: Ulster (H)
2 Bulls - 61: Sharks (A)
3 Glasgow - 60: Zebre (H)
4 Leinster - 60: Connacht (H)
5 Stormers - 54: Lions (H)
6 Ulster - 53: Munster (A)
7 Benetton - 49: Edinburgh (H)
8 Edinburgh - 49: Benetton (A)
9 Lions - 49: Stormers (A)
10 Connacht - 45: Leinster (A)
11 Ospreys - 45: Cardiff (A)
12 Cardiff - 30: Ospreys (H)
13 Sharks - 25 Bulls (A)
14 Scarlets - 22: Dragons (H)
15 Dragons - 16: Scarlets (A)
16 Zebre - 15: Glasgow (A)

The site you've used has the table wrong. Edinburgh are above Benetton on wins.

[OomStruisbaai]

That went about as well as expected for the $harks. I though the red card was quite harsh as it was clear the player was dipping, but it was game over after that. Thank vok this season is nearly over.

Sharks can save their season by winning the Sport Pienaar and beating the Bulls in the last round. I'll support them allie pad!

[OomStruisbaai]

Timing all important

[Tichtheid]

I think the weekend shows Munster to be the form team and it's wouldn't surprise me if they ended the season unbeaten in the remaining games. It's difficult to see Ulster getting a win in Limerick in the final round and that would mean Munster having home advantage throughout the knockouts, though I'm not entirely sure what happens in the event that Leinster and Munster should end up in the final - they couldn't play that in Dublin, Shirley?
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Glasgow should get the full five at home against Zebre, that would take them to 65 points and top spot on the Friday evening, although Leinster play the same night against Connacht in Dublin and they themselves will be looking for the full compliment to take them to 65 points.
As said above, Munster will be entertaining Ulster and any win for Munster puts them way out in front on at least 67 points, if Ulster win they will either be 5th or 6th, depending on the Stormers v Lions game.
Bulls play the Sharks in Durban, the Sharks have nothing to lose and either they will be on a high after a cup win or will be deflated going into what for them is a dead rubber.
If Ospreys manage a full 5 from their trip to Cardiff they will be right in the hunt for the play offs on 50 points, anything less and I think they are out of contention.

It looks like Benetton v Edinburgh is a straight knock out for the play offs, again depending on the Lions and Ospreys.
Connacht would need the full five points in Dublin to prolong their season, and even then other results would have to go in their favour.

I may have omitted a few other permutations, but at the moment I expect the top four to be 1. Munster, 2. Bulls 3. Leinster, 4. Glasgow. If Bulls only get four points they still have a handy points difference advantage over The Dubs and the Weegies and all 3 will be on 13 wins.

I can see Edinburgh losing out, only Glasgow have beaten Benetton at home this season and Edinburgh’s back three players are going down on a weekly basis, Goosen took a bad knock on Friday and we are already without Boffelli, Graham, Kinghorn (departed to Toulouse mid-season), Paterson, Sweeney and Henry, the first four of those are full internationals and we’ve been playing centres on the wing

que sera sera

[Tichtheid]

oh, a point that someone (a Munster supporter) raised elsewhere, it has been said that Leinster's B team would win the league. That is obviously far from true now and perhaps they don't have the depth that we all thought they had.

[Sandstorm]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

[assfly]

It's such a shame the Lions aren't going to make the cut for the top 8. They've played such attractive rugby, despite their limited resources.

They really deserve to be playing in front of more fans. The sooner the finally leave Ellis Park the better.

[Sandstorm]

They really deserve to be playing in front of more fans. The sooner the finally leave Ellis Park the better.

Is there a viable alternative in Jhb?

[Jock42]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

"Here. First." If that means you agree with every Jock (or casual rugby fan) for several years, aye mate

[assfly]

Is there a viable alternative in Jhb?

The Wits stadium would be a good option for me. Otherwise some of the big schools would be an option too.

[Sandstorm]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

"Here. First." If that means you agree with every Jock (or casual rugby fan) for several years, aye mate

Hey TH, is bigging up Glasgow this morning like a mad thing!!

[Uncle fester]

oh, a point that someone (a Munster supporter) raised elsewhere, it has been said that Leinster's B team would win the league. That is obviously far from true now and perhaps they don't have the depth that we all thought they had.

The schedule is Kinder to them this year so they'll be able to go fully loaded for all the games, instead of trying to rotate.

[Tichtheid]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

Apart from the time Glasgow won the league you're dead right

[Tichtheid]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

"Here. First." If that means you agree with every Jock (or casual rugby fan) for several years, aye mate

Hey TH, is bigging up Glasgow this morning like a mad thing!!

I said Glasgow should get the full five points against Zebre, the bottom club with only one win to their credit and the side with the worst defence in the league. Glasgow got the full five against them recently when they played in Italy, one of ten try bonus points games from them this season. That would take them to the top spot overnight on the Friday, unless Leinster get the full compliment from their game

I don't think it's anything other than what anyone who watches the full league would suggest is going to happen

[Sards]

It's such a shame the Lions aren't going to make the cut for the top 8. They've played such attractive rugby, despite their limited resources.

They really deserve to be playing in front of more fans. The sooner the finally leave Ellis Park the better.

Don't count out the Lions......they have huge hearts...let's wait to see the match officials.
Lions will take the win for me.
One of Edinburgh or Benneton has to lose next match

[Tichtheid]

Of the teams 9-11, I think Connacht face the toughest task, playing Leinster in Dublin when Leinster will be going all out for the win. Next toughest must be Lions, away to Stormers, again Stormers will be looking to secure their own position in fifth. Ospreys will be looking for the win in Cardiff and possibly the full five.

All these teams are on nine wins so far, this is the second criterion for final league position after league points, Benetton and Edinburgh have 10 and 11 respectively

[OomStruisbaai]

It's such a shame the Lions aren't going to make the cut for the top 8. They've played such attractive rugby, despite their limited resources.

They really deserve to be playing in front of more fans. The sooner the finally leave Ellis Park the better.

Don't count out the Lions......they have huge hearts...let's wait to see the match officials.
Lions will take the win for me.
One of Edinburgh or Benneton has to lose next match

You are still on your match officials theory?

In the WC thread you attack all the posters about ref bashing but you are clearly the worse one.

[Sards]

It's such a shame the Lions aren't going to make the cut for the top 8. They've played such attractive rugby, despite their limited resources.

They really deserve to be playing in front of more fans. The sooner the finally leave Ellis Park the better.

Don't count out the Lions......they have huge hearts...let's wait to see the match officials.
Lions will take the win for me.
One of Edinburgh or Benneton has to lose next match

You are still on your match officials theory?

In the WC thread you attack all the posters about ref bashing but you are clearly the worse one.

Ask any Bulls and Sharks supporter....we know that Marius is your boy

[Sandstorm]

Ask any Bulls and Sharks supporter....we know that Marius is your boy

Moerat manages the refs better. If Am stopped chewing gum for 5 secs, I think he'd get more respect from the officials.

[Uncle fester]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

Apart from the time Glasgow won the league you're dead right

9 years ago...

[Tichtheid]

Scots don't have the big match temperament to win a championship. Here. First.

Apart from the time Glasgow won the league you're dead right

9 years ago...

I didn't read any time limit in the post I was replying to.

[Sandstorm]

I didn't read any time limit in the post I was replying to.

Trolling has a time limit of exactly 8.3 years. Longer than that doesn't count.

[Tichtheid]

I didn't read any time limit in the post I was replying to.

Trolling has a time limit of exactly 8.3 years. Longer than that doesn't count.

Maybe Fester is still sore after that Glasgow Munster game in Belfast nine years ago, even though they've won it once themselves since?

The thing I remember about it was Leone Nakarawa being absolutely unplayable and the crowd giving the other Weegie from Fiji, Niko Matawalu, a hard time because of the semi final.

Anyway, that's all so much fun but I'll leave it at that, my favourites for the title at the moment are Munster, they look to be timing it all just right again this year.

[Jim Lahey]

Obviously I'd like to see Ulster win it but no chance, so I'll be happy to see the Cousin Fondlers win it again.

Would be pretty funny to see Leinster shit the bed again. I know it was their 2nd team in Belfast on Saturday, but jeez they were fucking dreadful. Just alot of the basic skills are way off. James Ryan in particular looked miles off his best. And I'll never understand the hype over Harry Byrne.

[OomStruisbaai]

The URC has improved a lot since last year, despite the WC taking out a lot of international players.

The 2024/25 fixtures will be out tomorrow.

You can expect even more quality coming from South African teams. The Currie Cup has moved meaning the franchise will be able to have smaller squads.

[Sards]

Obviously I'd like to see Ulster win it but no chance, so I'll be happy to see the Cousin Fondlers win it again.

Would be pretty funny to see Leinster shit the bed again. I know it was their 2nd team in Belfast on Saturday, but jeez they were fucking dreadful. Just alot of the basic skills are Leway off. James Ryan in particular looked miles off his best. And I'll never understand the hype over Harry Byrne.

The funny thing is that us South Africans don't understand this Leinster thing. They never win anything.

Something like the Sharks

[fishfoodie]

Obviously I'd like to see Ulster win it but no chance, so I'll be happy to see the Cousin Fondlers win it again.

Would be pretty funny to see Leinster shit the bed again. I know it was their 2nd team in Belfast on Saturday, but jeez they were fucking dreadful. Just alot of the basic skills are Leway off. James Ryan in particular looked miles off his best. And I'll never understand the hype over Harry Byrne.

The funny thing is that us South Africans don't understand this Leinster thing. They never win anything.

Something like the Sharks

In the past they've won everything at a canter, & that was while playing 2nds the weeks before Europe.

The SA sides joining has definitely raised the bar, & added travel into the mix, but the other Nations, bar the Welsh, have all gotten better too. It used to be you could count on one of the Scottish being weak, while the other was decent, & both Italian sides would only scrape a few wins a year.

This was also the glory years when Sexton was at his peak, & they would have a couple of top level NIQ players, but the last few years have also shown the improvements from the changes in France, so that now there are 3, or 4 French sides who want to win in Europe, not 1, or 2.

[GrahamWa]

The 2024/25 fixtures will be out tomorrow.

That would be great, the Glasgow and Embra renewal for ST closes today and yesterday respectively. By the sounds of it the fixtures may be at odd times hence the early renewal deadlines.

Where did you read that the fixtures were being released?

Just checked and it was 11th July they were released last year.

[OomStruisbaai]

The 2024/25 fixtures will be out tomorrow.

That would be great, the Glasgow and Embra renewal for ST closes today and yesterday respectively. By the sounds of it the fixtures may be at odd times hence the early renewal deadlines.

Where did you read that the fixtures were being released?

Just checked and it was 11th July they were released last year.

Got a Google calender notification.

[OomStruisbaai]

Obviously I'd like to see Ulster win it but no chance, so I'll be happy to see the Cousin Fondlers win it again.

Would be pretty funny to see Leinster shit the bed again. I know it was their 2nd team in Belfast on Saturday, but jeez they were fucking dreadful. Just alot of the basic skills are Leway off. James Ryan in particular looked miles off his best. And I'll never understand the hype over Harry Byrne.

The funny thing is that us South Africans don't understand this Leinster thing. They never win anything.

Something like the Sharks

In the past they've won everything at a canter, & that was while playing 2nds the weeks before Europe.

The SA sides joining has definitely raised the bar, & added travel into the mix, but the other Nations, bar the Welsh, have all gotten better too. It used to be you could count on one of the Scottish being weak, while the other was decent, & both Italian sides would only scrape a few wins a year.

This was also the glory years when Sexton was at his peak, & they would have a couple of top level NIQ players, but the last few years have also shown the improvements from the changes in France, so that now there are 3, or 4 French sides who want to win in Europe, not 1, or 2.

Ospreys improved a lot since signing the contract with the Cheetahs. Some of their youngsters played in our local SA Cup while some of the Cheetahs plays URC. Bright move from them. Stormers have this with Griquas, Sharks with Pumas and Bulls with Boland.

[Uncle fester]

The 2024/25 fixtures will be out tomorrow.

That would be great, the Glasgow and Embra renewal for ST closes today and yesterday respectively. By the sounds of it the fixtures may be at odd times hence the early renewal deadlines.

Where did you read that the fixtures were being released?

Just checked and it was 11th July they were released last year.

Got a Google calender notification.

Amazing what can happen with a competition where the folks running it give a shit about it and the fans who pay to watch it.

[OomStruisbaai]

The lowest the Stormers can end is 7th to earn a SA playoff against the Bulls if the Sharks give them 5 points. This will let the Lions in play offs and a spot in the Champions league next year.

Well for me that's the worst scenario , I want to see the Stormers win and win well. Can't afford to let this slip specifically in Cape Town. Already 20,000 tickets sold on Monday. The Faithfull deserve much better then a loss in our last home game.

[Sards]

The lowest the Stormers can end is 7th to earn a SA playoff against the Bulls if the Sharks give them 5 points. This will let the Lions in play offs and a spot in the Champions league next year.

Well for me that's the worst scenario , I want to see the Stormers win and win well. Can't afford to let this slip specifically in Cape Town. Already 20,000 tickets sold on Monday. The Faithfull deserve much better then a loss in our last home game.

Just read Dobson is trying everything to avoid playing against Leinster.
Just the other day he said the Stormers fear noone. Do I detect fear in trying to avoid Leinster and fear of a loss to the Lions

[topofthemoon]

[OomStruisbaai]

The lowest the Stormers can end is 7th to earn a SA playoff against the Bulls if the Sharks give them 5 points. This will let the Lions in play offs and a spot in the Champions league next year.

Well for me that's the worst scenario , I want to see the Stormers win and win well. Can't afford to let this slip specifically in Cape Town. Already 20,000 tickets sold on Monday. The Faithfull deserve much better then a loss in our last home game.

Just read Dobson is trying everything to avoid playing against Leinster.
Just the other day he said the Stormers fear noone. Do I detect fear in trying to avoid Leinster and fear of a loss to the Lions

The Sharks fear the Bulls. Already throw in the towel before the game even started. Remain the joke of SA rugby.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Great work!

[OomStruisbaai]

Cheers, so even if the Stormers lose with a bonus point they will stay in 5th.

[Sards]

The Sharks fear the Bulls. Already throw in the towel before the game even started. Remain the joke of SA rugby.

Seriously . You are the only one who wants the Bulls to lose. What is wrong with you.

[OomStruisbaai]

The Sharks fear the Bulls. Already throw in the towel before the game even started. Remain the joke of SA rugby.

Seriously . You are the only one who wants the Bulls to lose. What is wrong with you.

Just show your cockroach approach to supporting.

I never said I want the Bulls to lose. I dont care a fuck because I know they will put 50 past you. I did say I dont want the Stormers to lose. It also wont make any difference on our log standing. The Lions need 5 points but fuck me, they will need to earn it. On the udder hand, you want the Sharks to lose. How fucktap is that?

[assfly]

How fucktap is that?